Robert Cray Band, Return to Forever IV to headline M&T Jazz Fest at Onondaga Community College

Provided photoContemporary blues guitarist and singer Robert Cray and his band will headline a 'mixed-bag' day of music June 24 at the Syracuse Jazz Fest.

Updated at 11:10 a.m. Monday, May 2, adding details about return of M&T Bank as title sponsor.

The 29th edition of the M&T Jazz Festival at OCC will feature The Robert Cray Band as the headliner on June 24 and Return to Forever IV to close out the music June 25 on the campus of Onondaga Community College.

Founder and executive director Frank Malfitano presided at a news conference this morning to announce the lineup for the free-admission festival.

The lineup on Friday, June 25, includes Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals and the Average White Band as national acts leading up to the contemporary blues of guitarist Cray and his band.

The lineup on Saturday, June 26, features Jazz Guitars Meet Hendrix and the Brothers of Funk Band as the national bands leading up to Return to Forever IV.

The return of M&T Bank as title sponsor was announced at the conference. Malfitano said County Executive Joanie Mahoney and OCC president Debbie Sydow reached out to M&T Syracuse regional president Allen Naples because the tough economic conditions and drop in fundraising had put the event in peril.

"They roped him in, and I'm aware of that," Malfitano said.

M&T had been title sponsor for 17 years before letting its contract expire after the 25th anniversary fest in 2007.

“Saturday is more of a jazz night, and Friday is more of a mixed-bag night,” Malfitano says about the musical lineup.

The first night of the fest will open with two bands representing top high school musicians from Central New York, the City of Syracuse Parks and Recreation Stan Colella All-Star Band, followed by the All-County High School All-Star Jazz Band.

The second night will be kicked off by a collaborative set from the Onondaga Community College Jazz Band and the Steelheads, a college ensemble from Flint, Mich.

All three national bands performing June 24 will be making their Syracuse Jazz Fest debut.

Cavaliere is a member of the Rock and Roll and Songwriters hall of fames with a Syracuse connection.

The native of Westchester County studied pre-med at Syracuse University. During his years at SU, he performed with a band called The Escorts.

He went on to fame as a singer and songwriter for The Young Rascals, who later became The Rascals. The band’s No. 1 hits included “Good Lovin’,” “Groovin’,” and “People Got to Be Free.”

“Felix is easily one of the top six soul singers of all time,” Malfitano says.

The Average White Band is a funky horn-driven collection that started in Scotland and quickly scored No. 1 hit, 1974 instrumental “Pick Up the Pieces,” and top 10 follow-up “Cut the Cake.” Singer-bassist Alan Gorrie and guitarist-singer Onnie McIntyre are founding members who remain with AWB.

The Robert Cray Band became a radio mainstay with the 1987 hit “Smoking Gun.” The guitarist and singer received a Grammy for the album that contained that song, “Strong Persuader.”

“Robert Cray is one of the best smooth contemporary blues singers and guitarists, but he can carry a real edge and fire, too,” Malfitano says.

Trumpet player Al Chez brought his big band to the Syracuse Jazz Fest in 2009 and won over the crowd with his hip ways and powerful sound.

Jazz Guitars Meet Hendrix features the work of guitarists Sheryl Bailey and Vic Juris. They and their band take the blues-rock songbook of the legendary Jimi Hendrix and bring it an improvisational jazz feel. The band includes Brian Charette on Hammond B-3 organ, Lincoln Goines on bass and Anthony Pinciotti on drums.

Return to Forever IV features founding members Chick Corea on keyboard, Stanley Clarke on bass and Lenny White on drums, with the addition of jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and guitarist Frank Gambale.

“Return to Forever is one of the seminal, ground-breaking fusion groups in jazz history,” Malfitano says. “When you talked fusion superstar groups it was always Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report.”

After the news conference, Naples said M&T ended its title sponsorship of the event in 2007 because the economy in Central New York had led to many other organizations seeking sponsorship money, too.

He said the title sponsorship is a one-year deal, with M&T contributing $55,000.

"It's life-saving," Malfitano said of the title sponsorship. "We're the M&T Jazz Fest at OCC. I'm delighted. M&T was a great title sponsor for 17 years."

"We took a little hiatus to support other activities in the community," Naples said. "We thought the time was right to do this again."

Malfitano said this year's operating budget for the fest will be around $250,000, with $63,500 coming from the Onondaga County budget. He thanked a list of 33 sponsors at the conference, and called Onondaga County, M&T Bank and OCC "the big three."

Malfitano said he'd love to be thinking about 2012, which would be the festival's 30th year as well as OCC's 50th anniversary.

"Hopefully, the economy will rebound, and there will be more dollars available," he said. "Quite honestly, I can't be thinking about 2012 because we're still a little short (in fundraising) for 2011."